Saint Philoumenos the New Resource Page

St. Philoumenos of Jacob's Well (Feast Day - November 29)

Verses

Philoumenos, being befriended by Christ
Was arrayed in the radiant porphyry of martyrdom.
Philoumenos was recently slaughtered violently
As the friend of God by the Well of Jacob.

 

Saint Philoumenos the New Hieromartyr of Jacob's Well (+ 1979) 

 

Holy Hieromartyr Philoumenos of Cyprus, Who Was Martyred at Jacob's Well in 1979 

 

Official Glorification of Hieromartyr Philoumenos of Jacob's Well  

 

Synaxarion of Hieromartyr Philoumenos of Jacob's Well

 

The Last Known Photo of Saint Philoumenos Before His Martyrdom

 

The Nephew of Saint Philoumenos Talks About His Uncle's Martyric Death

 

Testimony of the Dressing of the Martyred Body of Saint Philoumenos

 

Saint Philoumenos of Jacob's Well According to William Dalrymple

 

Philoumenos of Jacob’s Well: The Birth of a Contemporary Ritual Murder Myth 

 

Asher Raby: The Serial Killer Who Murdered Saint Philoumenos 

 

How the Official Canonization of Saint Philoumenos of Jacob's Well Came About

 

A Wondrous Appearance of the Holy New Hieromartyr Philoumenos

 

An Appearance of the Holy New Martyr Philoumenos in a Hospital in England

 

Saint Philoumenos Intervenes in the Rehabilitation of a Drug Addict

 

Saint Philoumenos Visits an Ailing Woman in the Hospital

 

Elder Elpidios of New Skete, Brother of St. Philoumenos the Hieromartyr 

 

The Repose of Elder Elpidios as a Testimony of his Holiness 

 

Fr. Justin, Successor of St. Philoumenos, Speaks from Jacob's Well 

 

The Holy Monastery of Jacob's Well in Samaria 

 

Greek Orthodox Monasteries of the Holy Land (Documentary) 

 

Synaxis of All Saints of Cyprus

Saint Philoumenos the New Hieromartyr of Jacob's Well (+ 1979)

St. Philoumenos the New Hieromartyr of Jacob's Well (Feast Day - November 16/29)

"On November 16/29, 1979 they burst into the monastery and with a hatchet butchered Archimandrite Philoumenos in the form of a cross. With one vertical stroke they clove his face, with another horizontal stroke they cut his cheeks as far as his ears. His eyes were plucked out. The fingers of his right hand were cut into pieces and its thumb was hacked off. These were the fingers with which he made the sign of the Cross."

The holy martyr of the 20th century, Philoumenos the Cypriot, came from the village of Orounta of the province of Morphou. From a young age he along with his brother Elpidios were apprenticed in the sacred letters of Christ by their grandmother. They mainly studied the lives of the Saints and hymns of the Church. The Saint at the time, along with his brother, left for the Monastery of Stavrovouni and stayed there for five years. Afterwards, they both left for Jerusalem. Saint Philoumenos stayed in Jerusalem for 46 years. The Saint found a martyric death by fanatic Zionist Jews who massacred him in the evening while he was doing vespers at the Well of Jacob where he lived, a loyal guardian of the Holy Places and traditions of centuries.

The Church of Cyprus and especially the Holy Metropolis of Morphou today celebrate the memory of the martyr Saint Philoumenos the New, the Cypriot. The neomartyr was born in 1913 and was a child of George and Magdalene Hasapi or Ourountioti , and the twin brother of Archimandrite Elpidios. Even though his parents come from the village of Orounta of the metropolitan area of Morphou, they lived at the parish of St. Savvas in Nicosia, since his father had his own inn and bakery there. Together with his brother Elpidios, they showed a particular enthusiasm for prayer and read the lives of the Saints, particularly they where touched by the life of Saint John the Kalyvitis, who in some way made an impact on them, to the point of desiring to follow the life of monasticism. Also, apart from their mother, their grandmother Loxantra, had in particular influenced them in learning the ways of the Church and in developing a truly Orthodox conscience. At the age of 14, the two brothers left for the Monastery of Stavrovouni and then left for Jerusalem, where they attended High School there. After they finished High School in 1939, Elpidios served as a priest in different places and died on 29 November 1983. Philoumenos remained in Jerusalem and in 1979 was appointed as caretaker of the Monastery of Saint Jacob's Well. While living there, on November 29, 1979, during the time when the Saint was doing vespers, he was murdered by Zionist Jews with an ax.

The week before, a group of fanatical Zionists came to the Monastery of Jacob's Well, claiming it as a Jewish holy place and demanding that all crosses and icons be removed. Of course, the Saint pointed out that the floor upon which they were standing had been built by Emperor Constantine before 331 A.D. and had served as an Orthodox Christian holy place for sixteen centuries before the Israeli State was created, and had been in Samaritan hands eight centuries before that. (The rest of the original church had been destroyed by the invasion of the Shah Khosran Parvis in the seventh century, at which time the Jews had massacred all the Christians of Jerusalem.) The group left with threats, insults and obscenities of the kind which local Christians suffer regularly. After a few days, on November 29, during a torrential downpour, a group broke into the monastery; the saint had already put on his epitrachelion for Vespers. The piecemeal chopping of the three fingers with which he made the Sign of the Cross showed that he was tortured in an attempt to make him deny his Orthodox Christian Faith. His face was cloven in the form of the Cross. The church and holy things were all defiled.

The body of the Saint was handed over to the Orthodox six days after his massacre, but retained its flexibility and was buried in the cemetery of Mount Zion. After four years, as is customary, his body was exhumed. It was found to be substantially incorrupt and had the smell of a beautiful fragrance. Then, the tomb was closed and was reopened during the Christmas of 1984, when the body was found to be partially incorrupt and was placed in a glass shrine in the northern part of the sacred Holy Altar in Mount Zion.

Hieromartyr Philoumenos was ranked among the Saints of the Church of Jerusalem on 30 August 2008, and hence then, his incorrupt body was transferred at the pilgrimage site of Saint Jacob's Well where he found martyrdom for the love of Christ. His memory is honored annually on November 29, especially in the community of Orounta with an all night long church service.

To see a Supplication Service to St. Philoumenos conducted before his holy relics, see here.


Apolytikion in Tone One
The offspring of Orountas, and from the root of Cyprus, and new Hieromartyr of the divine Well of Jacob, O faithful let us honor Philoumenos as a defender of our faith, and as an eternal soldier of Christ’s truth, we fervently cry out: glory to Christ Who glorified you, glory to Him Who kept you incorrupt, glory to Him who revealed you as our benefactor towards heaven.

Apolytikion in the Third Tone
Vanquisher of demons, dispeller of the powers of darkness, by thy meekness thou hast inherited the earth and reignest in the Heavens; intercede, therefore, with our Merciful God, that our souls may be saved.

Fr. Justin, Successor of St. Philoumenos, Speaks from Jacob's Well

In this video, Fr. Justin, the successor of the martyred priest Saint Philoumenos (+ 11/29/1979), speaks about the meeting of Christ with the Samaritan woman (St. Photine).

Fr. Justin built the new church dedicated to the names of Saint Philoumenos and Saint Justin where the incorrupt and fragrant relics of St. Philoumenos currently rest. He receives frequent visions of St. Philoumenos, who has protected him from threats by local fanatical Jews.

Holy Hieromartyr Philoumenos of Cyprus, Who Was Martyred at Jacob's Well in 1979

Icon of Saint Philoumenos (Michalis Koullepos, 1999).
In the church of the Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas, Orounda.

Childhood Years – Departure for the Monastery

Saint Philoumenos was born on October 15th, 1913 in the parish of Saint Savvas in Nicosia. His parentage originated from the village of Orounda, a village of the Nicosia district in Cyprus. The Saint’s parents were George and Magdalene Hassapis.

Saint Philoumenos of Ancyra

St. Philoumenos of Ancyra (Feast Day - November 29)

Verses

The feet of Philoumenos were pierced with nails,

Loving Christ and being loved by God.

During the reign of Emperor Aurelian (270-275), the Holy Martyr Philoumenos, who was from Lycaonia and had as an occupation the delivery of wheat to Galatia, was brought before the governor of Ancyra, whose name was Felix. 

Having confessed that he was a Christian, they first hammered nails through his feet and tore at his flesh. Then they pierced him with a wooden blade, and placed him in a lit furnace. However, he remained unscathed by the power of Christ. 

How the Official Canonization of Saint Philoumenos of Jacob's Well Came About

The decision for the canonization of Fr. Philoumenos was made by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem at the insistence of Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou. Metropolitan Neophytos said the following about this in 2009, after he did a trisagion at the grave of the parents of St. Philoumenos, in their native village of Orunda in Cyprus:

Greek Orthodox Monasteries of the Holy Land (Documentary)

This documentary, filmed for Greek TV and aired on 3 January 2013, mainly focuses on the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner recently established by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem on the Jordan side of the river, an oasis in the desert. The second half visits other Greek monasteries.

2:00 The Israeli's recently established this section for pilgrims to access the river.

3:30 The Orthodox Church of Saint John the Baptist on the Jordan side of the river. Behind this church is the newly-established Monastery, with a guest-house for about 200 people, a museum and a restaurant for pilgrims.

4:00 The Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner in Jordan.

5:30 The Cave of St. John the Baptist

6:00 The Church of Panagia Paramythia, whose primary icon was made on Mount Athos at Vatopaidi Monastery.

6:30 The donors to the Monastery, who are all locals or from Lebanon and London.

7:40 Icon of All Saints of Jordan, such as the Prophets Elijah, Moses, Aaron and St. Mary of Egypt.

8:30 The baptismal font as well as the font in which the Sanctification of the Waters takes place every first of the month.

9:00 Guest rooms.

11:00 Pilgrim from Patras, Greece. The husband is from Jordan and often visits his family and visits the Monastery.

13:00 A Convent established in the area where Christ was baptized. It will be avaton - only women will be allowed here, prohibited to men.

16:30 A garden of olive trees with chapels dedicated to the Saints of Jordan.

18:30 With about 100 Monasteries in the Holy Land, there are about 120 monastics. Some monasteries only have one monastic.

19:00 Fr. Justinian, abbot of Jacob's Well.

27:30 The tomb of St. Philoumenos.

29:00 Fr. Justinian encourages Greeks to come back to the Holy Land and inhabit and care for the monasteries.

29:30 The Monastery of the Archangels in Old Jerusalem.

31:00 The Monastery of St. Katherine in Old Jerusalem.

32:20 The Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos. He speaks of the Patriarchate, with the brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher, being the stewards on the shrines of the Holy Land.

The Best of May 2019 by the Mystagogy Resource Center (MRC)

Below is the monthly review for the month of May 2019 of the ten most popular articles on johnsanidopoulos.com, then all the posts made on the other websites of the Mystagogy Resource Center.

JohnSanidopoulos.com

1. Is the Holy Light of Jerusalem a Miracle? (Metr. Nicholas of Mesogaia)

2. The Vow of Archbishop Elpidophoros and St. Iakovos Tsalikes

3. Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra Has Reposed

4. Was St. Sophia of Kleisoura an Old Calendarist Nun who went by the name Myrtidiotissa?

5. A Man Builds a Church Honoring St. Ephraim of Nea Makri for Healing His Nephew

6. The Wondrous Relationship Between St. Iakovos Tsalikes and St. John the Russian

7. Rare Documentary of Mount Athos from 1983 Made by NBC News

8. A Description of Greek Orthodox Easter in Jerusalem in 1915

9. Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra Resource Page

10. Apostolic Tradition and Apostolic Succession in the Mystery of the Church

HoneyAndHemlock.com

1. "L'Agonie De Byzance" or "The Agony of Byzantium" (A 1913 Film About the Fall of Constantinople)

2. Nikolai Gogol as a Religious Personality

Bio-Orthodoxy.com

1. Copernicus in Orthodox Greece

Eschatologia.com

1. The Wildest Monsters of the Apocalypse

Daimonologia.org

1. On Ghostly Appearances, or Visitations from the Spirit World (St. Sebastian Dabovich)

2. Five Christian Saints Associated with Werewolves

3. Movie Review: "Hail Satan?" (2019)

4. Escaping the "Bags of Tricks" of Evil Powers

OrthodoxyAndWorldReligions.com

1. Philoumenos of Jacob’s Well: The Birth of a Contemporary Ritual Murder Myth

Erotapokriseis.com

1. Questions and Answers 80 - 86

NewMyriobiblon.com

1. Book Review: "Best. Movie. Year. Ever.: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen"

OrthodoxYouthResources.com

1. Welcome to Orthodox Youth Resources!

GnothiSeauton.org

1. Welcome to Know Thyself!

SalvationOfSinners.com

1. Welcome to Salvation of Sinners!

PraxisAndTheoria.org

1. Welcome to Praxis and Theoria!

Elder Elpidios of New Skete, Brother of St. Philoumenos the Hieromartyr

By Elder Joseph the Vatopaidi

The ever memorable Elder Elpidios († 1983) was the twin brother of the Holy Hieromartyr Philoumenos († 1979), who was recently slaughtered in Palestine by Jews. His holy relics are preserved imperishable in Jerusalem, exhibiting obvious signs of piety: a supernatural fragrance and the performance of miracles.

Blessed divine longing was blazing in the hearts of the devout twins from an early age. They preferred reading patristic books rather than anything else. At fourteen they read the biography of Father John Kavsokalyvitis. His heroic life was so attractive to them that they immediately left in secrecy for the Holy Monastery of Stavrovouni.

Rare Photos and Video of the Return of the Relics of Saint Savvas the Sanctified

Rare Photos and Video of the Return of the Relics of Saint Savvas the Sanctified

13/26 October 1965

The translation of the Holy Relics of Venerable Savvas the Sanctified from the Church of Sant'Antonin, Venice, back to the Holy Lavra of Saint Savvas the Sanctified, was preceded by consultations between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Benedict I of Jerusalem. Saint Savvas' relics had been stolen by the Crusaders of the First Crusade (1096-1099), along with many other relics, and were brought to Venice and placed in the Church of Sant'Antonin. The delegation from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in 1965 included Archbishop Vasilios of Jordan (later the Metropolitan of Caesarea); Archimandrite Theodosios - Abbot of Bethany; Archimandrite Seraphim Savvaitis - Abbot of the Holy Lavra of Saint Savvas the Sanctified; and Hierodeacon Kyriakos (later the Metropolitan of Nazareth). It is believed the sacred relic was returned due to the mutual lifting of the anathemas on the Mount of Olives in January of 164, but Elder Seraphim Savvaitis († 2003) had written in his memoirs that:

The Best of November 2019 by the Mystagogy Resource Center (MRC)

Below is the monthly review for the month of November 2019 of the ten most popular articles on johnsanidopoulos.com, then all the posts made on the other websites of the Mystagogy Resource Center. As for the most popular post from all the websites of the Mystagogy Resource Center for the month of November, that honor goes to:

Jonathan Jackson Discusses His Most Challenging Role as Elder Joseph the Hesychast

JohnSanidopoulos.com

1. The Story of Saint Paisios' Book About Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian

2. The Discovery of the Relics of Saint Katherine at Sinai

3. Why A Certain Priest Refused To Read A Newspaper

4. Saint Iakovos Tsalikes Appeared in the Center of Athens in 2016

Saints and Feasts of December 2

On the second Habakkuk went up to the city of God.

(Fasting Day)

Holy Prophet Habakkuk

 

Holy Prophet Habakkuk as a Model for our Lives

 

December: Day 2: Teaching 2: Holy Prophet Habakkuk
 

Holy Hermits John, Heraclemon, 
Andrew and Theophilos 

 

Synaxarion of the Holy Hermits John, Heraclemon, Andrew and Theophilos of Oxyrhynchus

 

Life of the Holy Hermits John, Andrew, Heraclemon and Theophilos of Oxyrhynchus

 

 

Saint Solomon, Archbishop of Ephesus

Saint Solomon, Archbishop of Ephesus

Holy Martyr Myrope

 

Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Myrope

Saint Myrope of Chios as a Model for our Lives

 

Prologue in Sermons: December 2

 

Saint Myrope in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church 
 

 

Holy Martyr Habibus the New

Holy Martyr Habibus the New of Edessa

Venerable Cyril of Philea 

 

Saint Cyril of Philea (+ 1110)

 

Saint Cyril of Philea and the Slap of the Guardian Angel

Holy Martyr Bibiana of Rome

Holy Martyr Bibiana of Rome (+ 363)

Saint Chromatius, Bishop of Aquileia

Saint Chromatius, Bishop of Aquileia (+ 409)

Saint Jesse, Bishop of Tsilkani

Saint Jesse, Bishop of Tsilkani

Venerable Avvakum of Fterikoudi

 

Venerable Avvakum of Fterikoudi, the Wonderworking Saint Who Heals the Deaf

The 13 Year Old Deaf Girl Who Placed Her Hope in a Relatively Unknown Saint

Venerable Athanasius the Resurrected, 
Recluse of the Kiev Caves 

 

Saint Athanasius "the Resurrected", Recluse of the Kiev Caves (+ 1176)

 

December: Day 2: Teaching 1: Venerable Athanasius of the Caves

 

 

Venerable Athanasius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves 

Saint Athanasius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves

Saint Stephen Urosh V, Emperor of Serbia

Saint Stephen Urosh V, Emperor of Serbia (+ 1371)

Venerable Joannicius of Devic

Saint Joannicius of Devic (+ 1430)

Venerable Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva 
the Clairvoyant and Wonderworker

 

Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva Resource Page

 

 

Saint Paisius (Olaru) of Sihastria and Sihla

 

Elder Paisius of Sihastria and Sihla (+ 1990) 

 

The Venerable Elders Paisius Olaru and Cleopa Ilie of Sihastria: Luminous Pillars of Romanian Monasticism

 

 

Saint Cleopa (Ilie) of Sihastiria

 

Saint Cleopa of Romania Resource Page 

 

 

Synaxis of the Panagia Gerontissa

 

The Miraculous Icon of Panagia Gerontissa

 

 

Non-Canonized Holy Figures 

 

 Elder Luke “the Guestmaster” of Valaam (+ 1965)

 

Elder Elpidios of New Skete, Brother of St. Philoumenos the Hieromartyr 

 

Elder Ambrose Lazaris Resource Page 

 

Elder Anastasios of Koudoumas Resource Page

 

 

Prologue in Sermons: December 2 

 

Synaxis of All Saints of Cyprus

Cyprus is known as the "Island of Saints". From apostolic times till our present day we know of 240 Saints from Cyprus. Many many more are unknown to us. There are also many which are only known to the Cypriot people but are not annually commemorated. For this reason, on the first Sunday of October is commemorated all the Saints of the island of Cyprus, both known and unknown. In fact, Archbishop Makarios III counted 369 Saints of Cyprus up until St. Philoumenos who was martyred in 1979.

Below is list of the 240 Saints of Cyprus:

1. Αββακούμ (ναός στο χωριό Φτερικούδι, Λευκωσία)
2. Αγάπιος (πληροφορίες στο Λ. Μαχαιρά)
3. Αθανάσιος (η μνήμη του εορτάζεται στις 23 Ιουνίου)
4. Αθανάσιος Πεντασχοινίτης (ερειπωμένος ναός στο πρώην χωριό Πεντάσχοινο)
5. Αθανάσιος Χύτρων (επίσκοπος Χύτρων=Κυθρέας, 4 αι.)
6. Ακάκιος ή Ισαάκιος (επίσκοπος Σίτης, εορτάζεται στις 21 Σεπτεμβρίου)
7. Αλέξανδρος (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Αξύλου της Πάφου)
8. Αλέξανδρος (επίσκοπος Αμαθούντος, 8. αι.)
9. Αλέξανδρος, μάρτυς (μαρτύρησε στη Σολέα, εορτάζεται στις 9 Φεβρουαρίου)
10. Αλέξιος (αρχιεπίσκοπος Κύπρου, αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά)
11. Αμβρόσιος (ένας εκ των «300», δύο χωριά στην Κύπρο με το όνομά του)
12. Άμμων, μάρτυς (εορτάζεται στις 9 Φεβρουαρίου)
13. Αναστάσιος (πληροφορίες στο Λ. Μαχαιρά, εορτάζεται στις 17 Σεπτεμβρίου)
14. Ανδρόνικος (μνημονεύεται από αρχ. Κυπριανό)
15. Απρίων («επίσκοπος Κύπρου», εορτάζεται στις 7 Δεκεμβρίου)
16. Αργά ή Αρκά (ερειπωμένος ναός στο χωριό Καμινάρια Μαραθάσας)
17. Αριστίων (μαθητής Απ. Βαρνάβα, 1. αι.)
18. Αριστόβουλος (αδελφός Απ. Βαρνάβα, εορτάζεται στις 7 Δεκεμβρίου)
19. Αριστοκλειανός (επίσκοπος, 1. αι.)
20. Αριστοκλής (πρεσβύτερος, εορτάζεται στις 23 Ιουνίου)
21. Αρίστων (επίσκοπος, 3 αι.)
22. Αρίστων (επίσκοπος Αρσινόης, αναφέρεται από Άγ. Νεόφυτο)
23. Αρκάδιος (αρχιεπίσκοπος 7. αι., εορτάζεται στις 29 Αυγούστου)
24. Αρκάδιος (επίσκοπος Αρσινόης, αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά και Άγ. Νεόφυτο)
25. Αρκάδιος (επίσκοπος Τριμιθούντος, εορτάζεται στις 7 Μαρτίου)
26. Αρτέμων (αναφέρεται από αρχ. Κυπριανό)
27. Αυγώνα ή Αγκώνα (ερειπωμένος ναός στο χωριό Μανδριά Πάφου)
28. Αυξέντιος (ναός στο χωριό Κώμη Κεπήρ, εορτάζεται στις 28 Σεπτεμβρίου)
29. Αυξίβιος (επίσκοπος Σόλων, εορτάζεται στις 17 Φεβρουαρίου)
30. Αυξίβιος Β' (επίσκοπος Σόλων)
31. Αυξουθένιος (ένας εκ των Αγ. Ηλιόφωτων, εορτάζεται στις 13 Ιουλίου)
32. Βαλάντιος (αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά)
33. Βαρλαάμ (αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά)
34. Βαρνάβας Απόστ. (1. αι, ιδρυτής Εκκλησίας Κύπρου, εορτάζεται στις 11 Ιουνίου)
35. Βαρνάβας (αχριεπίσκοπος, αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά)
36. Βαρνάβας Β' (αχριεπίσκοπος, αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά)
37. Βαρνάβας (επίσκοπος Λαπήθου)
38 Βαρνάβας (μοναχός, αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά)
39. Βαρνάβας (μοναχός, σπήλαιο στο χωριό Βάσα Κοιλανίου, εορτάζεται στις 11 Ιουνίου)
40. Βαρνάβας (μοναχός, ένας των 13 μαρτύρων της Καντάρας, εορτάζεται στις 19 Μαΐου)
41. Βασίλειος (αρχιεπίσκοπος, αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά)
42. Βασίλειος (επίσκοπος Ταμασού, αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά)
43. Βερινίκη (αναφέρεται από τον Άγ. Επιφάνιο)
44. Βηχιανός (ναός στο χωριό Ανάγυια, Λευκωσία)
45. Γελάσιος (επίσκοπος Σαλαμίνος)
46. Γεννάδιος (πατριάρχης Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, ερειπωμένος ναός στο χωριό Μωρό Νερό, Πάφος)
47. Γεννάδιος (μοναχός της μονής Καντάρας, 13. αι., εορτάζεται στις 19 Μαΐου)
48. Γεράσιμος (μοναχός Καντάρας, εορτάζεται στις 19 Μαΐου)
49. Γερμανός (μοναχός Καντάρας, εορτάζεται στις 19 Μαΐου)
50. Γεώργιος Βαβατσινιώτης (ένας εκ των «300» Αλαμάνων Αγίων από Παλαιστίνη)
51. Γεώργιος (επίσκοπος Τριμιθούντος. 8. αι.)
52. Γεώργιος Επιτηδεώτης (ένας εκ των «300», ναός στο χωριό Φλάσου, Λευκωσία)
53. Γεώργιος (ηγούμενος της μονής Χρυσοστόμου, εορτάζεται στις 26 Απριλίου)
54. Γεώργιος Μαχαιρωμένος (ερειπωμένος ναός στο χωριό Καταλιότας, Λευκωσία, εορτάζεται στις 31 Δεκεμβρίου)
55. Γεώργιος μοναχός (8. αι., υπέρμαχος εικόνων)
56. Γεώργιος Νεομάρτυς (ματρύρησε στην Παλαιστίνη στις 23 Απριλίου 1752)
57. Γεώργιος Περαχωρίτης (ναός στο χωριό Κακοπετριά, Λευκωσία)
58. Γεώργιος Αλαμάνος (μονή στο όνομά του στο χωριό Παντάκωμο Λεμεσού)
59. Γεώργιος Χοζεβίτης (Κύπριος, μόνασε στη μονή Χοζεβά της Παλαιστίνης, 7.αι)
60. Γρηγόριος (αρχιεπίσκποπος, αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά, εορτ. στις 5 Μαρτίου)
61. Δαμιανός (αρχιεπίσκοπος, εορτάζεται στις 8 Δεκεμβρίου)
62. Δημητριανός (επίσκοπος Ταμασού, ερειπωμένος ναός στο Πέρα Χωριό Λευκωσίας)
63. Δημητριανός (επίσκοπος Χύτρων, 9-10. αι., εορτάζεται στις 6 Νοεμβρίου)
64. Δημητριανός, μάρτυς (εορτάζεται στις 23 Ιουνίου)
65. Δίδυμος, μάρτυς (εορτάζεται στις 20 Φεβρουαρίου)
66. Διομήδης, μάρτυς (εορτάζεται στις 28 Οκτωβρίου)
67. Δομέτιος (αρχιεπίσκοπος, τοπωνύμιο: Άγιος Δομέτιος, Λευκωσία)
68. Ειρήνη (θυγατέρα Αγίου Σπυρίδωνα)
69. Ειρηνικός (ένας εκ των «300» Αλαμάνων Αγίων από Παλαιστίνη)
70. Ελπίδιος (ένας εκ των «300»)
71. Επαφράς (επίσκοπος, εορτάζεται στις 30 Ιουνίου και 8 Δεκεμβρίου)
72. Επαφρόδιτος (αναφέτεραι από αρχ. Κυπριανό)
73. Επαφρόδιτος (επίσκοπος Ταμασού, 5. αι.)
74. Επίκτητος (σπήλαιο στο χωριό Αγ. Επίκτητος, Κερύνεια, εορτάζεται στις 12 Οκτωβρίου)
75. Επιφάνιος ο Μέγας (επίσκοπος Κωνσταντίας, εορτάζεται στις 12 Μαΐου)
76. Επιφάνιος (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Αξύλου της Πάφου)
77. Επιφάνιος (ένας εκ των «300» από Παλαιστίνη, ερείπια ναού στη Κυθραία)
78. Επιφάνιος (επίσκοπος Σόλων, 5. αι.)
79. Ερμογένης (ο τάφος του παρά το Κούριο, εορτάζεται στις 5 Οκτωβρίου)
80. Ερμόλαος (ναός στο ομόνυμο χωριό, Κερύνεια, εορτάζεται στις 26 Ιουλίου)
81. Ευάγριος (επίσκοπος Σόλων, 5. αι.)
82. Ευθύμιος (αρχιεπίσκοπος, 9. αι.)
83. Ευλάλιος (επίσκοπος Λαπήθου, αρχαίος ναός παρά τη Λάμπουσα, εορτάζεται στις 22 Οκτωβρίου)
84. Ευράσιος ή Εὐφράσιος (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Λιθροδόντας, Λευκωσία)
85. Ευστάθιος (επίσκοπος Αμαθούντας)
86. Ευστάθιος (επίσκοπος Σόλων, 8. αι.)
87. Ευστάθιος (επίσκοπος Χύτρων)
88. Ευτύμιος ή Ευτύχιος (ναός 11. αιώνα στο χωριό Νήσου Λευκωσίας)
89. Ευτύχιος (ιδρυτής μονής των Ιερέων ή Αγίας Μονής, εορτάζεται στις 8 Αυγούστου)
90. Ευτύχιος (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Μαθιάτης, ερειπωμένος ναός)
91. Ευφημιανός (ναός 15. αι. παρά το χωριό Λύση, εορτάζεται στις 14 Νοεμβρίου)
92. Ζήνων (επίσκοπος Κουρίου 5. αι.)
93. Ζήνων (επίσκοπος Κυρηνείας, εορτάζεται στις 12 Ιουνίου)
94. Ηλιόφωτος (ναός παρά το χωριό Κάτω Μονή, εορτάζεται στις 13 Ιουλίου)
95. Ηρακλείδιος (Κύπριος, επίσκοπος Εφέσου)
96. Ηρακλείδιος (επίσκοπος Ταμασσού, εορτάζεται στις 17 Σεπτεμβρίου, ομώνυμη μονή)
97. Ηράκλειος (επίσκοπος, ασκητής παρά το χωριό Κοφίνου, Λάρνακα, ερείπια ναού)
98. Ησαΐας (αρχιεπίσκοπος, αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά)
99. Ησαΐας (μοναχός, ιδρυτής μονής Κύκκου, 11. αι.)
100. Θέλθας (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Λιθροδόντας, Λευκωσία)
101. Θεμισταγόρας (επίσκοπος Σόλων)
102. Θεμωνιανός (ναός 15. αι. παρά το χωριό Λύση, Λευκωσία)
103. Θεόγνωτος (ένας εκ των 13 μοναχών της Καντάρας, εορτάζεται στις 19 Μαΐου)
104. Θεοδόσιος (ένας εκ των «300» Αλαμάνων Αγίων από Παλαιστίνη)
105. Θεοδόσιος (επίσκοπος Αμαθούντος, 5. αι.)
106. Θεόδοτος (επίσκοπος Κυρηνείας, εορτάζεται στις 15 Ιανουαρίου)
107. Θεόδουλος (δια Χριστόν Σαλός, ασκητής, εορτάζεται στις 3 Δεκεμβρίου)
108. Θεόδωρος Α' (αρχιεπίσκοπος, αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά)
109. Θεόδωρος Β' (αρχιεπίσκοπος, αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά)
110. Θεόδωρος (επίσκοπος Κιτίου, 8. αι.)
111. Θεόδωρος (επίσκοπος Ταμασσού, εορτάζεται στις 4 Οκτωβρίου)
112. Θεόκτιστος (ένας εκ των 13 μοναχών της Καντάρας)
113. Θεόπομπος (επίσκοπος Αμαθούντος, 4. αι.)
114. Θεόπροβος (επίσκοπος Καρπασίας, εορτάζεται στις 4 Ιανουαρίου)
115. Θεοσέβιος Αρσινοΐτης (ασκητής, εορτάζεται στις 12 Οκτωβρίου)
116. Θεοφάνης (αρχιεπίσκοπος, εορτάζεται στις 12 Μαΐου)
117. Θεοφάνης (επίσκοπος Σολείας, 16. αι. εορτάζεται στις 17 Μαΐου)
118. Θεοφύλακτος (επίσκοπος Τριμιθούντος)
119. Θεράπων Αλαμάνος (ναός στο ομώνυμο χωριό, εορτάζεται στις 14 Οκτωβρίου)
120. Θεράπων, ιερομάρτυς (εορτάζεται στις 26 Μαΐου)
121. Θεράπων (ένας εκ των «300» από Παλαιστίνη, )
122. Θεράπων (ένας εκ των «300», ναός στο χωριό Λιθροδόντας, εορτάζεται στις 30 Οκτ.)
123. Θεράπων (ένας εκ των «300» από Παλαιστίνη,ασκητής παρά το χωριό Σίντα )
124. Θύρσος ή Θέρισσος (επίσκοπος Καρπασίας, εορτάζεται στις 23 Ιουλίου)
125. Ιάσων (ένας από τους Κύπριους Αγίους που έπρεπε να τιμά η Λατινική Εκκλησία)
126. Ιρεμίας (ένας από τους 13 μοναχούς της Καντάρας)
127. Ιλάριος (αρχιεπίσκοπος, συγγραφέας)
128. Ιλαρίων (ένας εκ των «300», ναός στη Περιστερώνα Λευκωσίας, εορτάζεται στις 21 Οκτωβρίου)
129. Ιλαρίων ο Μέγας (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Επισκοπή Πάφου, εορτάζεται στις 21 Οκτωβρίου)
130. Ιλαρίων ο Νέος (ένας εκ των «300», ομώνυμη μονή, εορτάζεται στις 21 Οκτωβρίου)
131. Ιούλιος (επίσκοπος Πάφου, 4. αι)
132. Ιωάννης (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Σια, Λευκωσία)
133. Ιωάννης ο Καλλιέργους (επίσκοπος Πάφου, 12. αι.)
134. Ιωάννης (αρχιεπίσκοπος Κύπρου)
135. Ιωάννης ο Ελεήμων (πατριάρχης Αλεξανδρείας 7. αι. εορτάζεται στις 12 Νοεμβρίου)
136. Ιωάννης (ηγούμενος μονής Καντάρας 1231)
137. Ιωάννης (ηγούμενος Μοναγρίου, εορτάζεται στις 4 Ιουνίου)
138. Ιωάννης Λαμπαδιστής (μονή στο Καλοπαναγιώτη, εορτάζεται στις 4 Οκτωβρίου)
139. Ιωνάς (ένας εκ των «300», ερείπια ναού στο χωριό Πέργαμος, Λάρνακα, εορτάζεται στις 11 Οκτωβρίου)
140. Ιωσήφ (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Λιθροδόντας)
141. Καλάνδιος ή Καλανδίων (ναός στο χωριό Αρόδες, Πάφος, εορτάζεται στις 26 Απριλίου)
142. Καλλίτροπος ( αδελφή Αγίου Επιφανίου)
143. Κασσιανός (ασκητής στο όρος Γλυφία, παρά το χωριό Αλέκτορα. Ερείπια μονής)
144. Κασσιανός (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Αυδήμου, Λεμεσός. Εορτάζεται στις 29 Φεβρουαρίου και στις 4 Δεκεμβρίου)
145. Κενδέας (ασκητής, εορτάζεται στις 6 Οκτωβρίου. Ναός στη Πάφο και Αυγόρου)
146 Κιλίσιος (επίσκοπος Πάφου)
147. Κόνων, ιερομάρτυς (Ναοί στα χωριά Κισσόνεργα και Νέο Χωριό, Πάφος. Εορτάζεται στις 5 Μαρτίου)
148. Κόνων (ένας εκ των 13 μοναχών της Καντάρας)
149. Κουρνούτας ή Κουρνούτος (ερειπωμένος ναός στη Αγροκηπιά, εορτάζεται στις 12 Σεπτεμβρίου)
150. Κρισπιανός (αναφέρεται ως μαθητής του Αγίου Ιλαρίωνα του Μεγάλου)
151. Κυριακός ή Κύριλλος (επίσκοπος Πάφου, 4. αι)
152. Κυριακός (τάφος και ναός στο χωριό Ευρύχου. Εορτάζεται στις 24 Μαΐου)
153. Κωνσταντίνα ή Κωνσταντία (προστάτιδα της Πάφου. Εορτάζεται στις 25 Αυγούστου)
154. Κωνσταντίνος Αλαμάνος (μαρτύρησε στο χωριό Ορμήδεια, εορτάζεται τη 1 Ιουλίου)
155. Κωνσταντίνος (αρχιεπίσκοπος Κύπρου)
156. Λάζαρος ο τετραήμερος (Προστάτης της Λάρνακας, επίσκοπος Κιτίου)
157. Λαυρέντιος (ένας εκ των «300» Αλαμάνων Αγίων από Παλαιστίνη)
158. Λεόντιος (επίσκοπος Νεαπόλεως, συγγραφέας)
159. Λούκιος (μάρτυς, εορτάζεται στις 22 Αυγούστου)
160. Μακάριος (επίσκοπος Πάφου, εορτάζεται στις 8 Φεβρουαρίου)
161. Μακεδόνιος (επίσκοπος Ταμασσού, σε αγιογραφίες 12. αι.)
162. Μαχλίων (Γέροντας Ιλαρίωνα του Μεγάλου)
163. Μάμας, μάρτυς (εκκλησίες στην Κύπρο και όνομα χωριού)
164. Μάξιμος (ένας εκ των 13 μοναχών της Καντάρας)
165. Μαρία (αδελφή Απ. Παύλου και μητέρα Ευαγγελιστή Μάρκου)
166. Μάρκελλος (επίσκοπος Απαμείας, εορτάζεται στις 14 Αυγούστου)
167. Μάρκελλος (επίσκοπος Σολέας, εορτάζεται στις 25 Φεβρουαρίου)
168. Μάρκος Ευαγγελιστής, εορτάζεται στις 25 Απριλίου)
169. Μάρκος (ένας εκ των 13 μοναχών της Καντάρας)
170. Μαύρα (σύζυγος Αγ. Τιμοθέου, εορτάζεται στις 3 Μαΐου)
171 Μελέτιος (επίσκοπος, εορτάζεται στις 21 Σεπτεμβρίου)
172. Μνάσων (επίσκοπος Ταμασσού, εορτάζεται στις 19 Οκτωβρίου)
173. Μνημόνιος (επίσκοπος Αμαθούντος, 4. αι., εορτάζεται στις 16 Ιουνίου)
174. Μνημόνιος (επίσκοπος Κιτίου, 4. αι.)
175. Μύρων (επίσκοπος Ταμασσού, εορτάζεται στις 17 Σεπτεμβρίου)
176. Νείλος (αρχιεπίσκοπος)
177. Νείλος (επίσκοπος Ταμασού)
178. Νεμέσιος (μάρτυς, εορτάζεται στις 20 Φεβρουαρίου)
179. Νεόφυτος (αρχιεπίσκοπος Κύπρου)
180. Νεόφυτος Εγκλειστος (ασκητής, συγγραφέας, εορτάζεται στις 24 Ιανουαρίου και στις 28 Σεπτεμβρίου)
181. Νέστωρ (επίσκοπος Τριμιθούντος, εορτάζεται στις 7 Μαρτίου)
182. Νικάνωρ (διάκονος, εορτάζεται στις 28 Ιουλίου)
183. Νικήτας (επίσκοπος Χύτρων)
184. Νικόλαος (επίσκοπος Πάφου)
185. Νίκων (επίσκοπος Αρσινόης)
186. Νόμων (ναός στο χωριό Ανάγυια, εορτάζεται στις 11 Δεκεμβρίου)
187. Ολιβιανός (εκ των «300», ερείπια μονής στο χωριό Λάρνακα της Λαπήθου, εορτάζεται στις 29 Μαΐου)
188. Ονησίφορος (ασκητής, ναός στο χωριό Αναρίτα, Παφος. Εορτάζεται στις 18 Ιουλίου)
189. Ορέστης (εκ των «300», ασκητής παρά χωρίο Κοφίνου, Λάρνακα)
190. Παλάμων (αναφέρεται φερώμυνος ναός με το λείψανο του)
191 Παμμέγιστος (ένας εκ των Αγίων Ηλιόφωτων, εορτάζεται στις 13 Ιουλίου)
192. Παμφοδίτης (ένας εκ των Αγίων Ηλιόφωτων, εορτάζεται στις 13 Ιουλίου)
193.Πανάρετος (επίσκοπος Πάφου, 18. αι., εορτάζεται τη 1 Μαΐου)
194. Πανηγύριος (ασκητής στο χωριό Μαλούντα Λευκωσίας, εορτάζεται στις 15 Μαΐου)
195. Πάππος (επίσκοπος Χύτρων)
196. Παύλος (Κύπριος Πατριάρχης Κωνσταντινουπόλεως)
197. Παύλος, μάρτυς (μαρτύρησε την περίοδο των Εικονομαχιών)
198. Παφνούτιος ( (ένας εκ των Αγίων Ηλιόφωτων, εορτάζεται στις 13 Ιουλίου)
199. Πήγων (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Κούρδακας, Πάφος. Εκ των «300»)
200. Πλούταρχος (αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά ως αρχιεπίσκοπος)
201. Πολέμιος (ένας εκ των «300», ασκητής παρά την Μόρφου)
202. Πολύδωρος Νεομάρτυς (Μαρτύρησε στη Νέα Έφεσο στις 3 Σεπτεμβρίου 1794)
203. Πορφύριος (αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά ως αρχιεπίσκοπος)
204. Ποτάμιος, μάρτυς (αναφέρεται από Κυπριανό, εορτάζεται στις 20 Φεβρουαρίου)
205. Ρήγινος (αναφέρεται από Λ. Μαχαιρά ως αρχιεπίσκοπος)
206. Ρήγινος, μαρτυς (μαρτύρησε παρά το χωρίο Φασούλα Λεμεσού. Εορτάζεται στις 20 Αυγούστου)
207. Ρόδων (αναφέρεται από Λ. μαχαιρά ως επίσκοπος Ταμασσού)
208. Σαλαμάνης (μαθητής Ιλαρίωνα του Μεγάλου)
209. Σαπρίκιος (επίσκοπος Πάφου, 5. αι.)
210. Σέργιος (αρχιεπίσκοπος Κύπρου, 7. αι.)
211. Σπυρίδων ο Τριμιθούντος (4. αι. Εορτάζεται στις 12 Δεκεμβρίου)
212. Σπυρίδων (επίσκοπος Χύτρων, 8. αι)
213. Συνέσιος (επίσκοπος Καρπασίας, εορτάζεται στις 16 Μαΐου)
214. Σωζόμενος (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Ποταμιά, Λευκωσία. Εορτάζεται στις 21 Νοεμβρίου)
215. Σωζόμενος (επίσκοπος Καρπασίας, εορτάζεται στις 16 Μαΐου)
216. Σώζων, μάρτυς (ασκητής παρά την Ασπρογιά Πάφου. Εορτάζεται στις 7 Σεπτεμβρίου)
217. Σωκράτης ή Σωσικράτης (επίσκοπος Καρπασίας)
218. Σωτήρ (επίσκοπος Θεοδοσιανής, δηλ. Λεμεσού, 5. αι.)
219. Σωτήριχος (αναφέρεται από αρχ. Κυπριανό. Ασκητής παρά το χωριό Παλαίκυθρο, Λευκωσία)
220. Σωφρόνιος (αρχιεπίσκοπος, εορτάζεται στις 8 Δεκεμβρίου)
221. Τιμόθεος (σύζυγος Αγ. Μαύρας, εορτάζεται στις 3 Μαΐου)
222. Τίμων (ασκητής, σπήλαιο στο χωριό Βάσα Κοιλανίου)
223. Τίτος (μαθητής του Απ. Παύλου, κατά τον Αρχ. Κυπριανό)
224. Τριφύλλιος (προστάτης της Λευκωσίας, επίσκοπος, εορτάζεται στις 12 Ιουνίου)
225. Τυχικός (επίσκοπος Νεαπόλεως, δηλ. Λεμεσού. Εορτάζεται στις 8 Δεκεμβρίου)
226. Τύχων (επίσκοπος Αμαθούντος, εορτάζεται στις 16 Ιουνίου)
227. Τύχων (επίσκοπος Ταμασσού, 4. αι.)
228. Φιλάγριος (επίσκοπος Κουρίου, εορτάζεται στις 9 Φεβρουαρίου)
229. Φίλων (επίσκοπος Καρπασίας, ναός, εορτάζεται στις 24 Ιανουαρίου)
230. Φιλωνίδης (επίσκοπος Κουρίου, 3. αι., εορτάζεται στις 30 Αυγούστου)
231. Φυλάριος (επίσκοπος Πάφου κατά Λ. Μαχαιρά)
232. Φιλούμενος Νεομάρτυς (μαρτύρησε το 1979, εορτάζεται στις 29 Νοεμβρίου)
233. Φωκάς (άγνωστα τα στοιχεία του με διάφορους ναούς στο όνομά του)
234. Φωκίων (μαθητής του Ιλαρίωνα του Μεγάλου)
235. Φωτού ή Φωτεινή (σπήλαιο και ναός στον Άγ. Ανδρόνικο. Εορτάζεται στις 2 Αυγούστου)
236. Φωτεινός (άγνωστα τα στοιχεία του)
237. Φώτιος (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Αθηαίνου. Εορτάζεται στις 18 Ιουλίου)
238. Χαρέτης ή Χαρίτων (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Αξύλου της Πάφου)
239. Χριστόφορος (ένας εκ των 300» από Παλαιστίνη, ασκητής παρά το χωριό Κοφίνου)
240. Χριστόφορος (ασκητής παρά το χωριό Κούρδακας, Πάφος. Εκ των «300»)

The Incorrupt Relic of Saint Savvas the Sanctified Placed in a New Reliquary (video and photos)

On Saturday night, September 30/October 13, 2018, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Holy Lavra of Saint Savvas the Sanctified according to the Typicon of the Lavra. The Liturgy was officiated by our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with co-celebrants the His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki and the Most Reverend Archbishops, Aristarchos of Constantina, Philoumenos of Pella, and the Most Reverend Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, Arab-speaking Priests, as well as visiting Priests from other Churches, Archdeacon Mark and Deacon Demetrios.

Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Paramonos and the 370 Martyrs With Him

St. Paramonos and the 370 With Him (Feast Day - November 29)

Verses

To Paramonos.

Paramonos was pierced for you my Christ,
Knowing only you as God, he dies only for you.

To the Three Hundred and Seventy.

The ten times seven men offered their heads to the sword,
Together with the six-fold fifty.

On the twenty-ninth Paramonos was slain with a long spear.

Saint Theodore the Sykeote, Bishop of Anastasiopolis

St. Theodore of Sykeon (Feast Day - April 22)

Verses 

 

And to Theodore—even when Theodore was dead—
the gift of working wonders is a great gift from God.
On the twenty-second, the tomb concealed the Sykeote. 

 

Saint Theodore the Sykeote was born in the mid-sixth century in the village of Sykeon, not far from the city of Anastasiopolis (in Galatia, Asia Minor). The public highway of the imperial post ran through this village, and on the road stood an inn kept by a very beautiful girl, Maria, and her mother, Elpidia, and a sister Despoinia. And these women lived in the inn and followed the profession of courtesans. Theodore was the son of Maria and Kosmas, who had become popular in the Hippodrome in the corps of those who performed acrobatic feats on camels, and was appointed to carry out the Emperor Justinian's orders. When his mother Maria conceived Theodore, she had a vision of a bright star overshadowing her womb. A clairvoyant Elder, whom she consulted, explained that this was the grace of God being poured forth on the infant in her womb.

When the boy reached the age of six, his mother presented him with a golden belt, since she intended that her son should become a soldier. That night the Holy Great Martyr George (April 23) appeared to her in a dream, and he told her not to consider military service for her son, because the boy was destined to serve God. The Saint’s father, Kosmas, had served as a messenger of the emperor Justinian the Great (527-565), and he died at an early age. The boy remained in the care of his mother, and his grandmother Elpidia, his aunt Despoinia and his little sister Vlatta also lived with them.

Holy Hieromartyr George Karastamatis (+ 1922)

St. George Karastamatis (Feast Day - September 4th and the Sunday Before the Exaltation of the Cross)

By Pantelis Houlis

Father George Karastamatis was heir to one of the most important noble families of the village of Agia Paraskevi in Krini (Cesme), which possessed the art of fishing, with several large ships, called trawlers.

A married cleric, he was parish priest of the decrepit Church of the Holy Forty Martyrs, one of the three parish churches of the village. A feature of his was his tufted curled hair, which became the reason for calling him "Dome" (Τρούλο), because he resembled the dome of a church.

He had a great love for Ancient Greece, and was a connoisseur and lover of the glorious Byzantine Culture.

He never tired for a moment to speak proudly of his origins, and his chief hallmark was his goodness, his kindness and his selfless Christian love which characterized him from his youth up to the last moment of his earthly life. He was a conscientious clergyman with excellent training in Orthodox liturgics. His voice was beautiful and he was familiar with Byzantine music. A graduate of the "Krinaiki School", he was beloved by all his fellow villagers.

His zeal and the fervent love for the ministry he received made him slow to finish the divine services and the Divine Liturgy, and his fellow villagers criticized him with the nickname "Late Rain" (Oψιμάκι), due to his lateness.

The first persecution of the Greeks took place between the years 1914-1919, and he was forced to flee with his family for Greece, probably Chios like most of the region.

The love for his land, and the partially justified behavior of the Greeks, deeply wounded him now as he came to the twilight of his life.

When they returned back again, after the apparent recovery of wrongdoing, the Elder made the decision to never leave again the place God ordained for him, so that he may praise and glorify Him.

Unfortunately the turmoil soon made an appearance again, and the calm and industrious Cesmians took the final road of refugees and exiles.

The brutality of the Turks led to the final and heavy blow against Hellenism, whose wounds are still open till today in the memory of us all. The villages of Cesme were deserted, abandoned by families who salvaged what they could that belonged to them, from the households in which they worked for centuries.

Chios, Northern Greece and Skiathos became a refuge for most.

Till today the descendants of these families are memorial signs of the refugees over the course of years.

The relatives of Papa-George in horror implored him to follow them, knowing well that this time it was all over, that this time the rage of the Turks would be complete and highly lethal.

(As far as we know a Karastamatis family with seven members moved to Skiathos, and later left for Thessaloniki, except for Stamatia and her brother George Alexandridis of the Karastamatis family and the youngest daughter who died. Maybe in Thessaloniki and the surrounding refugee area other relatives became established.)

Papa George Karastamatis was adamant, his gleaming white beard glittering like ermine was ready to be painted with the purple color of his blood, and he was ready to be crowned a king with the crown of his martyrdom.

The mischievous guerillas, who brought about the greatest disasters, were approaching Cesme, and Karastamatis waited in the village with two other elders, old barbers named George M. (perhaps Makridakis) and Nikoli K. (perhaps Karakouda) as mentioned in the book Lost Fatherlands - My Village of Agia Paraskevi in Cesme 1760- 1922 (ΧΑΜΕΝΕΣ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΕΣ – ΤΟ ΧΩΡΙΟ ΜΟΥ Η ΑΓΙΑ ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ ΤΟΥ ΤΣΕΣΜΕ 1760 – 1922) on page 660 by John D. Aikaterinis.

The three of them said goodbye to the last residents of Agia Paraskevi and the Elder gave them his heartfelt prayers and blessings. He had baptized them, he had married them, and stood by them as a true minister of love. The shepherd sent off his reasonable sheep while he remained behind unmovable, ready to accept suffering and death in the land of saint-bearing Asia Minor, in a second Fall.

Sunday 4 September 1922, an autumn morning, the silence of a few hours prior which covered the village was now disturbed by the sound of the bell. This crucified-resurrectional message will sound for the last time for the venerable parish priest of the Holy Forty Martyrs.

Papa George was there, present in his place, since he would not leave his parish to remain without a Liturgy despite the dire circumstances. The night before a group of Tsetes had arrived, guerilla Turks, who were the vanguard, an informal military unit of Kemal to exterminate the Greeks.

Wearing his sacred vestments he began to properly celebrate imperturbably the Divine Liturgy as the other two remained praying, anticipating that due to their old age they would invite "grace" from the Turks.

The moments were full of suspense, and the two barbers and friends of the Elder flinched before the Turks entered the church, and they managed to escape and hide as the same have recounted.

Perhaps that moment of cowardice displayed by his two companions, reminded him of the Disciples of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Perhaps he was reminded of the martyrdom of the Holy Forty Martyrs in whose church he served for years. When they were in the lake of their martyrdom one of them lost heart and left while he was replaced by a sentry named Aglaio, who had seen in a vision the glorious crowns of martyrdom over the heads of those who had been thrown onto the frozen lake.

The humble Levite stood before the Sacred Sacrificial Altar and did not hesitate to sacrifice the Lamb. Then there was shouting, bustling and shots fired.

The day passed, and the sun full of shame and sorrow withdrew, while George M. and Nikoli K. dared to leave their hiding place, and they timidly approached the church.

The Holy Hieromartyr George Karastamatis - as if one athlete from the fresco of the Holy Forty Martyrs was missing - was there baptized in the blood of his own Lake Sebastea, sprawled before the Beautiful Gate with his skull opened like the new Hieromartyr Philoumenos of Jacob's Well in 1979. In this way he went to the Heaven he loved and served without complaint till his last breath.

George M., who escaped from Cape Koumoudi by boat to Chios, was an eyewitness of what he saw and lived, and he gave his testimony as a humble synaxari for the new Hieromartyr George Karastamatis.

(The niece of the Hieromartyr, my grandmother, Stamatia Alexandridi-Houlis of the family Karastamatis, came as a refugee to the island of Skiathos at the age of twelve. Moreover the mother of Grandma Stamatia, Maria Karastamati, had a brother George Karastamati who became a monk on Mount Athos and given the name Simon.)

The death of Papa George was a Martyrdom, a sacrifice, even an offering on the heavenly altar, and another precious gem which adorns the great crown of Christ the King.

The martyric death of the Holy Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Smyrna had been celebrated since 1923 as well as all those who who died during the Asia Minor Catastrophe. The Patriarchate of Alexandria was the first to give the honor and recommended all the Orthodox Churches to establish them in accordance with Orthodox Christian tradition among the cloud of neomartyrs.

The massacre of the Greeks did not merely have a racial criterion, because in Asia Minor there is a long and illustrious presence of religious fanaticism, for everything Christian was desecrated and destroyed with a frenzy. The ecclesiastical consciousness of the Greek people and the multitude of refugees in the Greek territory, recognized the holiness of all those who died in the land of Ionia. To all these the governing Church could not but accept this common ecclesiastical consciousness as the ultimate criterion of truth and the faith of the fullness of the Church.

"The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece in its meeting, at the suggestion of the late Metropolitan of Patras Nikodemos, in the encyclical No. 2556 on July 5, 1993 numbers among the chorus of Saints of the Orthodox Church all those who were martyred in 1922 in Asia Minor - Bishops, Clergy and Laity."

So also was the Holy Hieromartyr George Karastamatis found to be among the choirs of these Holy Martyrs. While celebrating the Divine Liturgy he found death by a horde of guerillas in his village, Agia Paraskevi of Cesme. His courage to stand before the Holy Altar, the Altar that was to be the place of his martrdom, was a confession of faith.

Honor and blessings to all those who originate from that generation throughout the years. It is a sacred duty to give honor to this new Hieromartyr of the faith during the celebration of all those who died during the Asia Minor Catastrophe, on the Sunday before the Exaltation of the Honorable Cross, but especially on the day he gave up his holy soul on September 4th. Those from the village of Agia Paraskevi who are now in Chios honor this Hieromartyr as a Saint through the stories of their tradition, while the Square in front of the Church of Saint Paraskevi bears his name.

I pray that Saint George will bless and give health to all of us, interceding to Him so that the race of Greeks will not have to relive such painful days.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.